What role did the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine play in the decision to go to war against Spain?

The explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was a major factor in our decision to go to war against Spain. There had been a growing discontent between the United States and Spain over the Spanish treatment of the people of Cuba. Our newspapers were reporting how poorly the Spanish were treating the Cubans. Americans, who had no viable way of verifying the newspaper reports, were outraged at the alleged mistreatment of the Cubans. When the Spanish ambassador to the United States privately criticized President McKinley in a letter that was intercepted and given to the press, more people became upset with Spain. Our relationship with Spain was deteriorating.

When the U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, the American people immediately blamed the Spanish. The growing public pressure to go to war against Spain was very significant, even though there was no definite evidence linking Spain to the explosion of this ship. Many years later, it was concluded that the Spanish didn’t destroy this ship. After Congress insisted that Spain must leave Cuba and gave the president the power to make this happen, the Spanish declared war on us, and we then declared war on Spain. Thus, the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine was a critical factor leading to the Spanish-American War.